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FEATURE life in our foothills

September 2012

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September 2012

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FEATURE

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Publisher’s Note

W

hat makes this area so special? It’s people, of course!

In these foothills we are blessed with a diverse mix of people from all walks of life with interesting stories to be told. From the rich and famous to the not so rich in things but wealthy in spirit and heart, from the young child chasing his dreams to the octogenarian reflecting on days gone by, from those born and raised here to transplants who chose the area as home, they all have a story to be told, and in these pages we’ll give you a glimpse into some of their stories.

In this issue we’ll introduce you to Marshall Lipscomb, a young man who grew up here with a love for the outdoors and most of all his community.

You’ll also meet the abundantly talented Julia McIntyre and Gary Pace, two local jewelry artists with a flair for creating one-of-a-kind wearable art. Take a walk back in time with Joe Epley and read about a little-known 1780s Revolutionary War battle in Polk County on page 54.

There are many more stories within these pages and we hope you enjoy this latest issue as much as we have enjoyed working to bring it to you.

Look for the newest issue of Life in Our Foothills the last Thursday of each month. We invite you to pick up a copy each month. There is sure to be someone you know featured — a neighbor, family member, a friend or perhaps even you!

The magazine is available free of charge at more than 100 locations throughout the area. If you want it delivered to your home or office, we offer subscriptions for $35 per year, just enough to cover the postage. To subscribe, visit us at lifeinourfoothills.com or call us at 828-859-9151.

Betty Ramsey, Publisher

betty.ramsey@lifeinourfoothills.com

On the cover Teri Gabric with one of the alpacas at North Woods Farm.

She turns their fleece into yarn and sells it in her shop, which draws knitting and other fiber enthusiasts from all over the foothills.

Cover design: Gwen Ring Photography: Doug Dickerson

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PUBLISHER Betty Ramsey EDITORIAL Samantha Hurst Leah Justice Gwen Ring Barbara Tilly CONTRIBUTORS Barbara Childs Robin Edgar Joe Epley Gerda Hook Carol Lynn Jackson Gerald Pack PRODUCTION Doug Dickerson Samantha Hurst Gwen Ring MARKETING Matt Corn Nicholas Holmberg Betty Ramsey Lenette Sprouse ADMINISTRATION Jessy Taylor DISTRIBUTION Jeff Allison Jonathan Burrell Nick Elder Tony Elder Life in Our Foothills is published monthly by Tryon Newsmedia LLC. Life in Our Foothills is a registered trademark. All contents herein are the sole property of Tryon Newsmedia Inc. [the Publisher].

No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher.

Please address all correspondence (including but not limited to letters, story ideas and requests to reprint materials) to: Editor, Life in our Foothills, 16 N. Trade Street, Tryon, N.C. 28782.

Life in Our Foothills is available free of charge at locations throughout Polk County and upstate South Carolina. Please visit lifeinourfoothills.com for a list of those locations. Subscriptions are available at a rate of $35 for one year by emailing subscribe@ lifeinourfoothills.com, or calling (828) 859-9151, ext. 101.

Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing advertise@lifeinourfoothills.com, or by calling (828) 859-9151.

CONTENTS

24 40 In Every Issue 8 SHORT STORIES

Explore the area's rich agricultural roots through the Farm to Fork supper or celebrate its musical roots at the Landrum Library's New Harmonies exhibit.

12 OUT & ABOUT

Welcome Morris back to Tryon; prepare to Ache Around the Lake.

14 FOOTHILLS FEATURED

Get a glimpse of some of those who helped "Save Morris," former Tryon High students and residents enjoy Meeting Place activities.

74 WHY I LOVE THE FOOTHILLS

Marshall Lipscomb serves his native county as an EMT and fire fighter.

Arts & Culture 21 VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT:

Dorcas Epley values the friends she has made and the feeling of being able to help other through her volunteer work at Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry.

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Features 24 NORTH WOODS FARM

Teri Gabric explores fiber in many forms at North Woods Farm Fiber and Yarn Shop.

32 BINGO

It's more than just a game to many regulars at Polk County's two weekly bingo nights.

40 NATURAL ELEMENTS

Julia McIntyre and Cary Pace are two of the area's many artists creating jewelry from glass, wood and metal.

56 EARLE'S FORD

Walk back in history to the Revolutionary War in the foothills.

Home & Food

38 BUSINESS OF INTERIOR DESIGN

Professionals use training and skills to help clients bring their rooms to life.

46 TOUR POLK'S BOUNTY

The third annual PolkFresh Farm Tour.

49 WORM COMPOSTING

How to create "the world's best fertilizer," worm castings, at home.

CONTENTS

Appointments

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57 UPCOMING EVENTS

Fall approaches, bringing a wealth of equestrian events.

58 CONVERSE COLLEGE

Lincoln and Suzanne Russel bring Converse's equestrain program to their new Finally Farm.

66 SUE MULLEN

Landrum rider Sue Mullen tells the story of her recent experience on the 100-mile Tevis Cup endurance ride.

69 DARK KNIGHT STABLES

A Landrum stable attends the Blue Ridge Classic Horse Show.

60 ADRIENNE OTTO

70 U.S. PONY CLUB

62 CAITLYN POOLE

71 RVPC SUMMER CAMP

64 ACUPUNCTURIST CYNTHIA MILLIGAN

72 DUDLEY

A local veterinarian uses her expertise to help bring equine services to poor countries.

A high school rider represents South Carolina at the National High School Finals Rodeo in Wyoming.

Cynthis Milligan uses traditional acupuncture therapies to help riders heal.

Area Pony Club members achieve national level U.S. Pony Club certificates.

River Valley Pony Club (RVPC) holds a summer camp at Windridge Farm.

Dudley the donkey shares his view of the equestrian world.

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SHORT STORIES

Third annual

Last years Farm to Fork event. Photo submitted.

Farm to Fork The Mill Spring Agricultural Development Center, known to locals as the Ag Center, will host its third annual Farm to Fork supper and open house Saturday, Oct. 13 from 5:30 - 9:30 p.m.

This event is the largest annual fundraiser for the ag center and has quickly become an annual social highlight for the community. Following tradition, the evening will take place on the front grounds of the ag center near the ancient magnolia tree and the expansive new Mill Spring farm gardens. The event will focus on the area’s rich agricultural roots, as well as Polk’s deep sense of community through fresh, local food, drink, music and art.

The silent auction and 50/50 raffle will be an important part of fundraising efforts to enable future projects to be completed as restoration of the Agricultural Development Center continues.

Tickets will go on sale in August and will be available on a first come, first serve basis at the Mill Spring Farm Store, the farmer’s markets and online. The past two events have sold out quickly, so make sure you are signed up to receive future updates via www.polkcountyfarms.org Farm to Fork is currently securing volunteers to help with the many facets of the event. If you would like to be involved, would like to be considered for the evening’s musical line-up, have your art be a part of the event or make a donation for the silent auction, contact Mindy Wiener at mindywiener@gmail. com. Article submitted by Mindy Wiener.

Tryon Arts and Crafts School

Fifth Annual Fall Festival

Tryon Arts and Crafts School will present its Fifth Annual Fall Festival on Oct. 13 and 14 at 373 Harmon Field Road in Tryon, amidst the fall splendor of the Pacolet River valley surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. Featuring more than 40 of the finest artisans of the region, this two-day event will be held rain or shine. In addition to shopping for handmade, one-of-a-kind arts and crafts, visitors to the festival can enjoy food from local eateries, tour the facility, see craft demonstrations and participate in activities for the kids. There will be a silent art and craft auction of art objects made by Tryon Arts and Crafts School members and instructors, as well as items and services donated by local businesses.

The Tryon Arts and Crafts studios will be open for demonstrations of crafts and techniques.

Demonstrations will include pottery, lapidary, jewelry, lampwork glass beads, woodturning and weaving, as well as metalworking in the forge throughout both days. Some demonstrators may invite guests to try their hand at the craft. Article submitted by Christine Mariotti.

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SHORT STORIES

LaurelHurst

residents view history

Residents of LaurelHurst independent living recently took a tour of two historical buildings in Polk County. John Vining, director of Polk County Extension Service, served as the groups’ tour guide at the Polk County courthouse. Residents learned everything from how the bricks were painted to make them look square to how the floors were installed.

“It was truly fascinating and informative,” said Jane Scarborough.

Two of the group then went across the street to register to vote.

LaurelHurst and LaurelWoods residents also recently visited the House of Flags in Columbus and said they were overcome by the museum. Frank Ortiz, House of Flags volunteer, explained both the museum and the individual flags to the American flag.

“I would love to come back and spend more time in the the group. The residents learned about the story behind the North Carolina state flag, the military flags and the history of future,” said Rose Hofman. Article submitted.

TDDA sponsors Unchained Tour The Tryon Downtown Development Association will bring the Unchained Tour to Sunnydale in downtown Tryon on Sunday, Sept. 16 at 2 p.m.

The Unchained Tour will arrive in its ’72 Bluebird school bus with four world-celebrated raconteurs, one stop on a tour in which the group will perform shows in 11 locations in Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina. The tour’s mission will be to celebrate independent bookstores and to spread the message that storytelling should be the heart, the vital center, of every community.

Tickets are available at the following locations: • The Book Shelf, 94 N. Trade St., Tryon • The Village Book Shoppe, 16 Maple St., Tryon • Owens Pharmacy, 38 N. Trade St., Tryon • Vines & Stuff, 112 N. Trade St., Tryon • Kathleen’s, 66 E. Main St., Saluda.

For more information on the Unchained Tour, visit www.theunchainedtour.org or contact Linda Byington at linda.byington188@ gmail.com. Article submitted by Linda Byington.

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SHORT STORIES

New Harmonies continues Members of Gingerthistle (at left) will perform at the Landrum Library Sept. 9, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 6, 7 p.m.

East Tennessee State University Student Pride Band Landrum Library, outdoor concert ETSU offers B. A. degrees and minors in bluegrass, old time and country music.

Landrum Library hosts "New Harmonies," a Smithsonian traveling exhibit celebrating American roots music through Sept. 16.

The exhibit explores the distinct cultural identities of American roots music – music that has grown out of older folk traditions, evolving over time from Anglo-European, Native American and West African cultures to include diverse immigrant groups.

Through a selection of photographs, recordings, instruments, lyrics and artist profiles, the exhibit tells a distinctive American story.

Sunday, Sept. 9, 3:30 p.m.

Gingerthistle: “Roots Music of the South” Landrum Library Ben Seymour and Becky Cleveland, the husband-wife team known as Gingerthistle, trace traditional folk music from the Blue Ridge Mountains back to Celtic roots.

Tuesday, Sept. 11, 7 p.m.

Jay Lichty Lecture/performance, 7 p.m.

Landrum Library North Carolinian Jay Lichty builds one-of-aFriday, Sept. 7, 8:30 a.m. kind custom handmade acoustic guitars and East Tennessee State University Student Pride ukuleles. A musician all of his life, Lichty was Band a home builder until the downturn in the Landrum High School Auditorium economy. After handcrafting a ukulele in his newfound free time, he took a guitar-building Saturday, Sept. 8, 4 p.m. workshop and his new career began.

Southern Appalachian Chamber Singers: “The Sponsored by the Mary F. Kessler Fund/Polk Music of Early America” County Community Foundation.

Lecture/performance focused on folk hymns in the shape note tradition Thursday, Sept. 13, 7 p.m.

Landrum United Methodist Church Firecracker Jazz Band Featured during Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Landrum High School Auditorium Charleston, the group features primarily Mars The band captures the joyous energy of jazz Hill College choir alumni and music faculty. roots, paying homage to early 20th-century Sponsored by the Susan Patricia Hodge Foun- jazz, including that of Dixieland and New dation.

Orleans.

Open Horse Show presented by Polk County Sheriff's Mounted Patrol

The Polk County Sheriff's Mounted Patrol will present the Open Horse Show at FENCE in Tryon on Sept. 22 at 9 a.m.

The event will benefit the Polk County Sheriff's Benevolent Fund, which helps those in need.

The Open Horse Show will feature youth and adult events, halter, trail, showmanship, English, Western, gaited, sport classes, high point youth and adult awards, barrel races and pole bending with 50/50 payback. Trophies for first place will be available in every class.

For more information, call 864-457-2719 or email suetruitt@manegate.net 10 L IFEINO URFO O THI L L S. C O M

83 palmer street tryon, north carolina 28782

828.859.3185 thompsonlandscape@windstream.net

10% Off with this ad until September 30th

Guided walks

SMALL JOBS ARE MY SPECIALTY!

at Pearson's Falls

The Tryon Garden Club at Pearson's Falls offering a fall series of walks focusing on wildflowers, ferns, trees and shrubs and vines. The first of four walks will be conducted

by Pearson's Falls docents on Tuesday morning, Sept.

11. The focus will be on fall blooming flowers and vines, including asters and cone sunflowers. Participants are asked to arrive by 10:15 a.m. for registration. Class begins 10:30 a.m. until noon.

On Tuesday morning, Oct. 2, Alan Graham from the WNC Botany Club of Hendersonville will lead a walk to identify trees and shrubs, including pertinent characteristics of each. Time is from 10:30 a.m. until noon.

Arborist Todd Mullen will give a talk and demonstration on "Care of Trees For the Home Gardner." His afternoon class is from 3:30 until 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 8. Disease control, pruning, watering techniques and more will be discussed.

The final class on Monday, Oct. 15 at 3:30 p.m. will be a walk on vines, shrubs and trees with local Polk Extension director John Vining. Invasive undesirables as well as native species will be identified.

A nominal fee will be charged per class, plus admission for non-club members. For information please call Annie at 864-457-7278. Registration forms can be picked up at the entrance to Pearson's Falls off Hwy. 176, between Tryon and Saluda. Pearson's Falls can be reached at: 828-7493031. Registration forms are also available on line at www. pearsonsfalls.org Pearson's Falls is owned and operated by the Tryon Garden Club. For information about joining the Tryon Garden Club, contact Delia Tittle at 828 859-8372. Written by Annie Ewing and submitted by Wyndy Morehead, marketing chair for the Tryon Garden Club.

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OUT & ABOUT St. Luke's seventh annual Ache Around the Lake Run/Walk is Sept. 22

Firecracker Jazz Band performs Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. at Landrum High Auditorium

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Sept. 6 7 p.m.

East Tennessee State University Student Pride Band.

Outdoor concert at Landrum Library. ETSU offers B.A. degrees and minors in bluegrass, old time and country music.

Sept. 7 8:30 a.m.

East Tennessee State University Student Pride Band concert at Landrum High School Auditorium.

Sept. 8 Parade at sunset, event to follow. St. John's Catholic Church Italian Festival.

The second annual St. Johns Catholic Church Italian Festival will be held Sept. 8 beginning with a parade at sunset. The event will include tours of the church, a singing of ancient Gregorian chants by the Schola Choir, music and dancing, bocce ball and Sea of Galilee fishing for prizes. For sale will also be

favorite Italian dishes such as pizza, sausage with peppers and onions, Italian sodas and gelato.

For more information, call the church at 828-859-9574 or Janet Sciacca at 864-457-6530.

Sept. 8 5 p.m.

Return of Morris the Horse A celebration will be held on McCown Street in Tryon at 5 p.m. to welcome home Morris the Horse, who was kidnapped and held for ransom back in June. Morris has been lovingly restored and will return to his rightful spot in downtown.

Sept. 8 4 p.m.

Southern Appalachian Chamber Singers Landrum United Methodist Church Lecture/performance: “The Music of Early America,” focused on folk hymns in the shape note tradition.

Featured during Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, the group

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includes primarily Mars Hill College choir alumni and music faculty. Sponsored by the Susan Patricia Hodge Foundation.

Sept. 8 14th Annual Green Creek Heritage Festival 4-H livestock show, festival parade, fireman's barrell roll, petting zoo and carriage rides throughout the day. Crafters and artisans farmers' market, ole-timey things and music all day long. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Green Creek Dr., Columbus.

Sept. 9 3:30 p.m.

Gingerthistle: “Roots Music of the South” Landrum Library Ben Seymour and Becky Cleveland, the husband-wife team known as Gingerthistle, trace traditional folk music from the Blue Ridge Mountains back to Celtic roots.

Sept. 11 7 p.m.

Jay Lichty Lecture/performance, 7 p. m.

Landrum Library Tryonite Jay Lichty builds oneof-a-kind custom handmade acoustic guitars and ukuleles. A musician all of his life, Lichty was a home builder until the downturn in the economy. After handcrafting a ukulele in his newfound free time, he took a guitar-building workshop and his new career began.

Sponsored by the Mary F. Kessler Fund/Polk County Community Foundation.

Sept. 13 7 p.m.

Firecracker Jazz Band Landrum High School Auditorium The band captures the joyous energy of jazz roots, paying homage to early 20th-century jazz, including that of Dixieland and New Orleans.

OUT & ABOUT Sept. 15 6 p.m.

Rotary Club Shrimp/ Sausagefest The Rotary Club of Tryon will hold its annual Shrimp/Sausagefest at Harmon Field in Tryon at 6 p.m.

Sept. 20 The Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Ortho Gibbs Golf Tournament at Meadowbrook Golf Club.

Sept. 21 8 p.m.

Tryon Little Theater’s production of “All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” will be held at the TLT Workshop on S. Trade St. in Tryon.

Sept. 22 8 a.m.

Ache Around the Lake Run/ Walk The seventh annual Ache Around the Lake Run/ Walk will be held Saturday, Sept. 22 at 8 a.m. around Lake Lanier.

The event was created in 2006 and benefits St. Luke’s Hospital Foundation.

Sept. 22 8 p.m.

Tryon Little Theater’s production of “All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” will be held at the TLT Workshop on S. Trade St. in Tryon.

Sept. 22 An Open Horse Show to be held Sept. 22 by the Polk County Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol at FENCE will benefit the sheriff department’s benevolent fund. The show is open to youth and adult participants and the various classes include halter, showmanship, English, hunter over fences, western, gaited, trail and sport classes. For more

information: 864-457-2718.

REOCURRING

Sept. 23 3 p.m.

A matinee of Tryon Little Theater’s production “All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” will be held at the TLT Workshop on S. Trade St. in Tryon.

Walks in the Woods Sponsored by the Saluda Community Land Trust the first and third Sunday of each month, through October. Meet at the Saluda Library parking lot at 2 p.m. to carpool to trailheads.

Call 828-749-9886.

Sept. 27-29 8 p.m.

Tryon Little Theater’s production of “All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” will be held at the TLT Workshop on S. Trade St. in Tryon.

American Legion Post 250 Bingo Fridays, 7 p.m., 43 Depot St., Tryon.

Doors open 5:30 p.m. Smokefree.

September 30 3 p.m.

A matinee of Tryon Little Theater’s production “All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” will be held at the TLT Workshop on S. Trade St. in Tryon.

Columbus Farmers Market Every Saturday, 8 a.m.-noon Courthouse Square, Columbus.

Green Creek Farmers Market Every Tuesday, 5 - 7 p.m.

Green Creek Fire Dept.

Landrum Farmers Market Every Saturday, 7 - 10 a.m.

Trade Ave., Landrum.

Saluda Farmers Market Every Friday, at 4:30 p.m.

Downtown Saluda.

Tryon Farmers Market Every Thursday, at 4 p.m.

McCown Street, Tryon.

Wine Drinkers with a Reading Problem Every third Thursday, The Saluda Inn, Greenville St., Saluda.

Bingo Every Thursday night, 7 p.m.

VFW Post 10349, 3788 NC 108 Hwy. E, Columbus. For more information call 828-894-5098.

FOOTHILLS FEATURED

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Tryon Save Morris Gala

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The Save Morris Ransom Project held a gala to raise funds to "ransom" Morris the Horse. Organizers said the event raised enough money to complete the restoration of Tryon's iconic mascot.

1. Dee O'Brien, CrysArmbrust, Patti D'Arbanville, Lisa Moser and Alan Peoples.

2. Sarah Sullivan, Gayle Connell, Patti D'Arbanville and Ann Lansing.

3. Melanie and Steve Cobb.

4. Nolan, Kimberly Nolan and Polk County Sheriff Donald Hill.

5. Damian Hall, Wayne Levister and John Dobson. (opposite page) 6. Jay and Betty Burdue. (opposite page) 7. Nell Campbell and Meg Rogers. (opposite page) 14 LIFEI NO URFO O T HIL L S. C O M

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FOOTHILLS FEATURED

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Tryon High School Reunion On July 22, "A Day to Remember" brought together many former students of Tryon High School, whose last class graduated in 1992. The reunion was for anyone who had ever attended Tryon schools.

1. Cindy Cunningham Thompson and Rhonda Cunningham.

2. Sam Pace and Janet Sauve.

3. Margaret Mize.

4. Kim Pack, Robbie McFarland and Karen Carson, class of 1988.

5. Joyce Kimpton and Jeanette Gosnell.

6. Clemen Booker and JJ Griffin.

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FOOTHILLS FEATURED

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Chamber After Hours

Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce hosts a Chamber After Hours event.

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1. Vanissa Haro, Sue Campbell, Janet.

Sciacca, Karen Dacey and Robin Julian.

2. Jon Austin, Kerry Austin and Gary Corn.

3. Andy Foster and Tim Wright.

4. Rita Motter and Suzanne Keim.

5. Lynn Montgomery and Happy McLeod.

6. Jay Julian, Michael Blackwell, Robin Julian, Richard and Dina Edney.

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FOOTHILLS FEATURED

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Meeting Place Senior Center

The Meeting Place Senior Center off of Skyuka Rd. in Columbus draws a wide range of people for its many weekly and special events.

1. Brad Schwartz, Sandra Phillips and Liz Easley 2. Autumn Singleton and Diane Kinoshita 3. Dorothy Noblitt 4. Betty Bader and Kathryn Sidener 5. Pam Doty and Morton "the Grouch" Poliakoff 6. Madge Phillips, Jeanette and Charly Pittman

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FOOTHILLS FEATURED

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Tryon Gallery Trot

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Tryon's regular Gallery Trot celebrate arts and community, with live music, food and browsing opportunities throughout the downtown area.

1. Bill Crowell and Kathleen Carson 2. Alan and Harriet Peoples 3. Kim Luedi 4. John Orlando 5. Janet Jackson

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FOOTHILLS FEATURED

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New Harmonies Kick Off Event The Landrum Library kicked off its New Harmonies traveling Smithsonian exhibit and event series on Sunday, Aug. 5 John Fowler was the featured musician/ storyteller.

1. Jacquie Brown-Williams and Craig Williams 2. Maryneal Jones 3. Ray McLees 4. Christine Cheseldine and Lois Ell 5. Cynthia Terwilliger 6. Garland and Robin Rice

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Outreach Supply Drive Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry recently held a school supply drive at Polk County High School. In the first hour alone, 187 children received notebooks, pencil holders, crayons, folders and backpacks.

1. Polk Wellness 2. Fire Department 3. DSS and Collins

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FOOTHILLS FEATURED

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Back to School Bash

Tryon United Methodist Church helped families prepare for school with free supplies, haircuts, food and fun activities.

1. Andrew Suber Brown 2. Karen Campbell-Watson 3. Zavier Gosnell

Tryon Fine ArTs CenTer 2012-2013

Main Stage Season sponsored by

Save 15%!

Purchase season tickets now!

RAve ON! The Buddy hOlly expeRieNCe Thursday, October 11 • 8:00 pm Tribute show back by popular demand FAye lANe’S BeAuTy ShOp STORieS Friday, January 11 • 8:00 pm Award-winning one woman show, tales, songs SSTeep CANyON RANgeRS Saturday, March 23 • 8:00 pm Grammy-nominated NC natives: pushing bluegrass into the new century

Season ticket price: $100 Box office hours: Tues.-Fri., 10am-4pm Sat., 10am-1pm 34 Melrose Avenue Tryon, NC 828-859-8322

tryonarts.org

JeReMy KiTTel BANd Thursday, April 18 • 8:00 pm Brilliant new quartet of Celtic players led by Scottish fiddle champion

Visit us online at www.tryondailybulletin.com

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Volunteer Spotlight Dorcas Epley

Interview by GWEN RING Photograph submitted

Building valuable relationships through volunteering

Share a little about your background.

I am a native of Asheville, N.C. and met my husband, Joe, there when he was a reporter for WLOSTV. We moved to Charlotte, where he started Epley Associates, a public relations firm that eventually became very successful. As the business Dorcas Epley grew, I left my job as an administrative supervisor with an insurance company and joined the firm, where I was responsible for administration and human resources. In 1998, we bought our home in Polk County and lived here on weekends until I retired at the end of 1999.

Joe commuted to Charlotte for a few years until he sold the business in 2005. We have a daughter in Greenville, S.C. and a son in Charlotte and we have four grandchildren.

I am an active member of Columbus United Methodist Church.

How long have you volunteered at Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry?

I began volunteering at Outreach in 2006 — so that makes about 6 years.

What brought you to volunteer at Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry?

I was recruited by Eloise Thwing, who is a member of my church, Columbus United Methodist. Eloise is one of the founders of Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry and was its executive director at that time. I felt honored to be asked to volunteer.

How often do you volunteer at Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry?

At the present time I volunteer on each Wednesday afternoon. That is my regular time. Sometimes I volunteer additional days if I’m needed and I help out for some special projects.

What personal skill of yours do you feel is most valuable to volunteering?

Although I am not an outgoing person, I enjoy talking with people one-to-one and building relationships. I try to be a good listener, which helps me be a more effective interviewer in my job as an in-take volunteer.

What’s the greatest reward from volunteering at Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry?

The greatest reward from volunteering at Outreach is being able to participate in its mission in a small way and seeing the results of our effort to help others better cope with the adversities of life. The organization is extremely valuable to this community and has helped many more families than most people realize.

The next greatest reward is being able to work with a dedicated, creative and professional staff that appreciates my efforts. I have also benefited greatly from the friendships I have made with my fellow volunteers.

Any helpful hints for others looking to volunteer?

Volunteers are needed in many organizations in Polk County. I suggest that those interested visit each organization and become familiar with their missions and goals. Volunteers should determine how much time they are willing to give and be responsible for that time once they commit. Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry welcomes and needs new volunteers.

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FEATURE

North Woods Farm A love for fiber 24 LIFEI NO URFO O T HI L L S. C O M

FEATURE

Opposite page: One of the alpacas at North Woods Farm. This page: Teri Gabric with several of her alpacas.

Written by BARBARA TILLY Photographs by DOUG DICKERSON AND BARBARA TILLY

North Woods Farm Fiber and Yarn Shop is the culmination of a long journey born of Teri Gabric's love for fiber in all its forms.

Gabric learned how to weave in 1978 at Penn State University, where her husband, Larry, was studying meteorology. Her father built her a little table loom and she continued weaving at home. That loom was the first in a

long line of equipment Gabric would use in her work with fiber.

Eventually Gabric moved to Raleigh, N.C., where she bought a new eight-harness loom, wove cloth and sold it in shops. There she met spinners, who taught her how to spin.

"Of course, when you spin, you need some kind of fiber to work with," Gabric said. "That's when I discovered

alpacas."

While living in Ohio in 1991, Teri and Larry bought their first two alpacas, a weanling female and male alpaca.

A few months later they bought a bred female, and their alpaca business was off and running. More than 50 alpacas now live at North Woods Farm.

"It may be hard for some to understand the rewarding feeling of raising

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This page: A sit and knit held at North Woods Farm. Opposite page: Shawls, scarves and hats on display in North Woods Farm Fiber and Yarn Shop.

your own animals, shearing them, washing and carding their wool, spinning the wool into yarn and then weaving the yarn into something as simple as a scarf," Gabric says on her website, northwoodsfarm.com.

Gabric moved to northern Maine in 1999, bringing her alpacas and many boxes of fleece, yarn, looms, spinning wheels and other supplies and equipment. Over time, she had accumulated a lot of fiber-related things, and she began to think about what to do with it all.

"I stuffed it under beds, tucked it

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into closets, it filled the basement, baskets overflowed throughout the house - something needed to be done," Gabric's website says. "A store. Yep, I needed a storefront so I could sell 'stuff.'"

After seven years in Maine, Gabric moved to Campobello and fulfilled the dream of owning a storefront.

She bought Goodwin's Yarn Shop in Columbus. Later, she moved the store to Main Street in Campobello and changed the name to North Woods Farm Fiber and Yarn Shop.

By then, Gabric had discovered mini

mills, machines that let her process fiber from her alpacas, as well as fiber others sent to her for processing. She learned how to use the machines, and how to maintain and repair them, too.

"I didn't know I'd have to be a mechanic when I started processing fiber," she said.

There wasn't room at the store for the mini mills, so the machines began filling up space at her home. Pretty soon, she was looking for a way to combine the store and her processing work.

"I wanted to be more efficient," Ga-

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"It's never boring."

bric said. "When the store wasn't busy, I could have been processing fiber if I'd had the equipment there."

The answer was another move, this time to her current location in Inman, S.C. In her spacious new building, the mini mill equipment is set up on one side, while the rest of the space is used to display her wide array of yarns, some of which she spun from her own alpaca fiber, as well as a large collection of books, patterns and supplies for knitting, crocheting, felting and other fiber arts.

She also had room to expand the area for her Sit and Knit groups, which meet several days a week. Some days only a few people show up for the Sit and Knit, but on other days she'll have as many as 15-20 people. The Spartanburg Knitting Guild also meets at the shop on Saturdays at 9 a.m., and she recently held a "yarn tasting" that drew 36 people.

The larger space also makes it easier for Gabric to offer workshops and classes, such as a recent workshop in which participants created a hat using wet felting techniques with a ball as a base.

Caring for the alpacas, processing fiber and managing the store keeps Gabric very busy, but that's okay with her.

"It's never boring," she said. •

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From fiber to yarn Basic steps:

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1. Raw fiber from animal shearings waiting to be processed.

If you don’t have animals to shear, you can also buy the fiber from farmers or online.

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2. Teri Gabric checks fiber drying on a rack after washing, the first step in processing. To wash the fiber, soak it in a sink or washer for 45 minutes and rinse for 20 minutes. Repeat both the soaking and rinsing. Put the rinsed fiber on a rack to dry.

Gabric often moves this rack outside on nice days.

3. Next, the dry fiber goes through the picker. This machine opens up the fiber. If the picked fiber still has a significant amount of debris, it can also be put through a fiber separator.

This machine removes hay chaff, guard hairs, burrs and other trash.

North Woods Farm Fiber and Yarn Shop is located at 519 Weatherly Road, Inman, S.C. www.northwoodsfarm.com 864-848-9640

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4. The fiber then goes through the carder, 2-3 ounces at a time, to create matts.

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5. Each matt is then run through the pin drafter three or four times to create roving.

6. Teri Gabric checks the single ply yarn created in the next step, in which the roving goes through the spin frame, which spins 13.7 yards/minute of a single-ply yarn.

7. Next, Teri Gabric sets up the plyer, which combines single-ply yarns into yarns with multiple plies (often 2-ply or 3-ply). At this point, single plies of different colors and types are often combined to create yarns with mottled colors, varying thicknesses or a blend of textures.

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8. The yarn is then wound onto cones.

9. Teri Gabric mounts a cone on a skeiner, which measures out the yarn in skeins. The yarn is then cut, and the new skein is removed from the skeiner. It is now ready to be packaged and labeled as desired.

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Chuck Davis announcing a bingo game.

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B I N G O Written and photographs by LEAH JUSTICE

Some say playing bingo gives them something to do, others say they like to socialize with their friends, and many have dedicated their lives to organizing the game in order to give the money to charities.

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John Coggins.

“It’s our Friday girls night out.”

- Mitzi Ruff In Polk County there are two venues to play bingo weekly. The VFW Post 10349 in Mill Spring and the American Legion Post 250 in Tryon both offer bingo every Thursday and Friday night respectively.

The money from bingo at both locations goes to community projects. Tryon organizers said money at bingo is used for scholarships given to the Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry, Friends of Harmon Field and other organizations.

Recently money was given to help with 34 L IFEINO URFO O T HI L L S. C O M

K9s for Warriors.

Mitzi Ruff, who joined her friends Janet Jamison and Edith Ritchey at a recent Tryon bingo night, said she loves playing bingo and meeting up with her friends.

“It’s our Friday girls night out,” she said.

Bingo has been offered in Polk County for decades and has always been once a week. Snack bars are offered at both locations, with money made from the snack bars in Tryon going to the

Polk County Honor Guard and snack bar money in Mill Spring going to the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.

Adjutant Morton Poliakoff with the American Legion said every penny from bingo goes to the community except what is needed for prizes. He said if bingo makes $500 in a night, $200 of that goes to pay winners and $300 is donated to community projects.

Tryon’s Friday bingo nights draw anywhere from 35 to 60 people, and Mill Spring’s Thursday night bingo draws

Above: Janet Jamison, Edith Ritchey and Mitzi Ruff. Right: Paul Zeese.

Below: Lenny and Elaine Rizzo.

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Tryon bingo group. Front row: Robert Holycross, John Misencik and Erwin "Fletch" Fletcher. Back row: Morton Poliakoff, Chuck Davis, John McGee, Bob Moore and Bevin Corbin.

Edith Ritchey and Gerry Taylor.

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between 15 and 35 people each night. Mill Spring players also bring canned goods to donate to Outreach Ministry.

“It’s gambling but it’s not like Cherokee,” Poliakoff said.

“You have to have a state license. You have to follow the laws.”

North Carolina restricts the number of hours bingo can be played. Minors can play bingo but cannot get prizes.

The American Legion has a bingo budget this year of $16,050 that it plans to give to community projects. The VFW and American Legion also do other fundraisers throughout the year for various other community projects, such as to the Boy’s Home and many others.

The VFW has 95 members in Mill Spring and the American Legion in Tryon has 115 members.

Bingo is offered at the VFW Post 10349 every Thursday night beginning at 7 p.m. The post is located at 3788 N.C. 108 Hwy. E, Columbus. For more information, call 828-894-5098.

Tryon offers bingo every Friday night at the American Legion Post 250, located at 43 Depot St., Tryon. Call 828859-6296 for more information.

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Bingo Spots in Polk County MILL SPRING Bingo is offered at the VFW Post 10349 every Thursday night beginning at 7 p.m.

The post is located at 3788 N.C. 108 Hwy. E, Columbus. For more information, call 828-894-5098.

TRYON Tryon offers bingo every Friday night at the American Legion Post 250 located at 43 Depot St., Tryon. Call 828-859-6296 for more information.

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The business of interior design How to work with a professional to make rooms come alive through design Written by GILLIAN DRUMMOND

Interior design is, of course, a business.

I think that for many people this is not at all obvious. Perhaps it’s because so many people have grown up in homes that were not decorated or were decorated by parents who, as mine did, filled their homes full of favorite things. My mother did not use a decorator to help her decorate any of the homes we lived in while I was growing up. Like most people, my mother’s way of decorating was to make choices based on what she could afford, what had been handed down and what was needed.

My interest in aesthetics, in beauty and in the creative side of life drew me to the interior design field. I wanted to be able to bring to other people’s lives the pleasure that I experienced in making rooms come alive through design. Growing up, I had watched my mother create charming homes for our family wherever we moved. By the time I was 13, I was decorating my own room and was interested in the how and why of the decorating alchemy that seemed innate in me. That’s why I decided to make interior design a profession.

My years of study, internship and working with some of the most important designers in the United States fine-tuned my natural skills and gave me the body of knowledge and the credentials to call myself a professional.

That’s really the point, you see. My training and experience is another form of product, the contribution that I offer to my clients. It’s the meaning of my business and the core of what I can provide to those whose homes I help to become great personal statements and living spaces full

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of beauty and comfort. Without my education as a designer, my years of professional experience, I would be just another source of interior design products: furniture, fabric, wallpaper, antiques, bibelots and the services that help to get the job done.

In today’s multi-source world, it is sometimes difficult to understand the importance of the expression, "to the trade."

The Internet offers lists upon lists of where, what and how for everything under the sun including home decoration.

The many businesses built on the desire and interest Americans have in making their homes beautiful are too numerous to mention, but they are everywhere. There are many home-store chains to choose from, as well as the traditional sources, such as department stores and furniture stores.

Indeed, interior design would be a dying art if it were only a gatekeeper for sources.

Instead, interior design is flourishing in America. There are design and renovation magazines and television shows and public awareness is much more sophisticated.

Professionally, I find that my clients are coming to the first interview with much more knowledge of what they want. They have, more often than not, educated themselves through observation and reading as well as experimentation. This makes my job considerably easier but it is not a substitute for what I bring to that first meeting: the training to discern and design.

I find that the process is a cooperative one between me and the client. Through my

training, I develop the proposal and in the process the client’s creativity is stimulated.

This provides us both with very fertile ground for the project.

As does every good designer, I have a resource library. It includes all the many samples of fabrics, carpets, wallpaper, wood finishes and tile, as well as catalogues of furniture, lamps, shades and other accessories. My library includes my Rolodex with the many names and phone numbers of specialty dealers, often exclusive sources of antiques and fine art, as well as those special items that make a home unique.

I also give my client the benefit of my expertise at this stage. My travels over the years, the relationships developed over time with my many sources help to bring a design project to completion without the mistakes so common to the layman. My training allows me to eliminate many costly hours of experimentation that the client might go through without my participation.

Although the first interview and design process of the project are important, they are only part of the total process. The other part, which often seems to be the larger, is the expediting and fulfillment of the job. Throughout the process, I am using my sources and contacts and my years of education and experience. It is my professional background that allows the project to unfold smoothly.

Every detail of a room design must be customized to the client’s desire. That

Our goal is to eliminate the headaches and the problems.

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How Interior Designers Charge How interior designers charge their clients varies widely but several standards have emerged.

Billing methods may include any combination of the following.

RETAIL: The traditional method of billing in the industry. The interior designer pays at cost for furnishings and materials and then charges the client the retail or list price.

COST-PLUS: The designer charges the cost plus commission on furnishings, services and often on construction.

Used with a design fee or hourly charge.

DESIGN FEE: Many designers use a design fee for producing the design phase of the project, with cost-plus for purchases. Sometimes a design fee is charged by the hour CONTRACTED PRICING: An agreed-upon price or price range that includes the item and all expenses (freight, insurance, delivery, installation, etc.) incurred in delivering and installing the finished item to your home. means that from the color of paint on the walls to the smallest trim on a pillow, the detail of the project makes all the difference.

The second part of the process is where the importance of quality control comes into play. After the proposal has been agreed upon, the firm takes on the responsibility of placing the orders, following up on the orders, tracking the order, often through several stages, until it has been satisfactorily delivered to the client.

What appears to be a simple order, for instance a pillow with fringe and tassels, can mean working with four or five different wholesalers: the fabric house, the trim manufacturer, the supplier for the tassels and the pillow manufacturer. Many things may go wrong with even such a small aspect of a large project. We take on the expenses and the risk of this process. Our goal is to eliminate the headaches and the problems for the client.

When your needs and your budget require just some sound

CONSULTING FEE OR HOURLY RATE: If you are using a designer more for problem solving than purchasing, then this is how you may be charged. A designer may also charge an hourly fee for supervising tradespeople, shopping and overseeing orders.

RETAINER: A designer will ask for a retainer upon signing the contract or letter of agreement at the start of a project. This is a good-faith binder.

CONTRACT: As in most business relationships, a contract or letter of agreement is essential. If the designer doesn’t suggest that you sign one, you should suggest it.

Many misunderstandings jeopardize a project for lack of a good contract.

decorating advice, working with a designer or decorator on a consulting basis can not only make your job easier but also save you from making many mistakes. It is also a good sounding board for your ideas and may take them to a different level that you had never imagined. A couple of hours of consulting time is not expensive when you consider the benefits, and if you get stuck later in the process you can get an hour or two more; a very good investment.

I love my business. I feel fortunate to be one of the few who has found a way to combine what I enjoy with what I do well. It is the fulfillment of my early desire to create beauty in by surroundings, and to be able to help others have the same experience.

Making a living out of one’s own talent is a great reward and I thank my wonderful clients who have given me such a delightful opportunity. •

Local Area Designers GWEN BAILEYS - full service interiors and consultation - 828-859-7032 DAN FEREBEE - Bravo Market Place 828-859-3123 www.bravomarketplace.com MARY CORNELL - consultation only 828-859-9317

GILLIAN DRUMMOND, DRUMMOND HOUSE CO. - full service interiors and consultation 828-859-9895 - www.drummondhouseco.com TRIP HOFFMAN - full service interiors 305-360-2052 LINDA LEE REYNOLDS - full service interiors and consultation - 828-859-2744

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Natural elements Artists bring glass, wood and metal to life in jewelry Written by ROBIN A. EDGAR Photographs by DOUG DICKERSON

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Julia McIntyre Glass and metal jewelry inspired by the area's natural beauty.

Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and replete with many natural elements, Polk County attracts and inspires a wide variety of jewelry artists.

One of them, Julia McIntyre, creates one-of-a-kind wearable art often based on natural themes such as acorns, oak and gingko leaves, jack in the pulpits and birds, from handmade soft glass beads, silver, copper and brass metal work.

“The natural beauty of the foothills and the mountains are a constant inspiration for my work,” says McIntyre.

A native of the northwestern Pennsylvania Appalachian Mountains, McIntyre’s mother encouraged her interest in crafts as well as antique collecting. An avid sewer, McIntyre and her two sisters started collecting vintage costume jewelry in junior high school. She then took up silversmithing and enameling in high school. After studying architecture at Penn State, she attended graduate school at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, where she lived for 23 years until she moved to Tryon in 2001 to work with Brady/Trakas Architects.

McIntyre started making jewelry to sell in the 1990s, but did not start making her beads until 2003, when she took glass working classes with Gary Newlin, who has a glass studio in Asheville.

“I became interested in working with glass during a study abroad term in Florence, Italy in 1977, but I didn’t have the opportunity to work with hot glass until I moved to Tryon,” she said.

McIntyre also pursued a renewed interest in metalworking workshops at Tryon Arts and Crafts School, taught by accomplished artists such as Molly Sharp and Kim St. Jean. Incorporating felting into her jewelry designs, she also etches her metalwork with a nontoxic electrochemical method, which she teaches at Tryon Arts and Crafts School, where she works part time as the senior director.

Often taking on unusual projects, she recently created a Morris the Seahorse pendant for the Morris Rescue Auction. Her jewelry can be found at the Tryon Arts and Crafts gift shop and her handmade glass beads at My Garden of Beadin in Hendersonville, N.C. She will sell her finished jewelry and glass beads at the Greenville Art in the Park Art Festival on Sept. 22- 23, and at the Tryon Arts and Crafts Fall Festival on Oct. 13-14. However, she doesn’t maintain a website for prospective buyers.

“I find that working two jobs, as an architect and senior director at Tryon Arts and Crafts, as well as making my jewelry, keep me too busy to keep up with a website,” McIntyre said.

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Cary Pace Hand-carved wooden earrings sold all over the world For jewelry artist Cary Pace, it’s another story.

A retired engineer from Henderson County Soil and Water, he sells his wooden earrings all over the world, including the Apple Mill in Saluda.

Using local wood, he paints his handiwork with a Japanese watercolor, using techniques he learned while in the Orient during his service with the Navy.

“I have been working in wood since I was 16 years old and I found it really calms my nerves since my return from Vietnam,” said Pace.

Part of the Pace family that settled in this area in 1750, Cary has lived in Saluda all of his life. He graduated from Saluda High School in 1964 before serving in the Vietnam War. A self-taught artist, he does not consider himself a jewelry maker, but rather a whittler who happens to make jewelry.

“As my carvings got smaller and smaller I got the idea to carve pairs and make earrings,” said Pace, who teaches his techniques to others at Blue Ridge Tech, Isothermal Community College, Brevard, N.C. and Fletcher, N.C., as well as at his home.

Making handmade jewelry has afforded Pace the opportunity to meet people from all over the world as he sells his work in 30 countries. Besides selling at the Apple Mill in Saluda, he is a part of the Mountain State Fair as well as the Village of Yesteryear at the state fair in Raleigh, N.C. He also sells at the tailgate market in Columbus on Saturday mornings, weather and health permitting. and at the Saluda Fine Arts Festival each May. “My carvings have taken me to many wonderful places while representing our area,” he says. “We also sell right here from the house. If anyone needs anything then give us a call.”

Pace makes other things from wood, such as signs, caricatures for gifts, a four-foot lighthouse and very large wooden spoons, just to name a few. Lately, he has been doing a lot of dogs, but the earrings continue to be the most popular. All of his pieces are unusual, as no two are exactly alike. He once made a 4-foot wooden spoon for a friend who needed it for a large bean pot.

“If there is a request, I try to get it done.”

For more information about Cary Pace’s work, go to his Facebook page at Pace’s Wooden Things. • 44 LIFEI NO URFO O THI L L S. C O M

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Tour Polk County’s bounty Saturday, Sept. 22 Written by CAROL LYNN JACKSON

Just north of Spartanburg, S.C., just south of Hendersonville, N.C., on the North/South Carolina border, sits pristine Polk County, where family farms are alive and growing. Come participate in the county’s third annual PolkFresh™ Farm Tour, and learn about small-scale agricultural initiatives. Across fertile bottomland, forests and open meadow pastures that line rivers and streams. Pick your own sustainable vegetables and fruits and relax in herb fields and gardens, sample from local vineyards and wineries and take a day to steer off the beaten path to meet your neighbors. You will be astonished to see what is happening in agriculture in Polk County.

Polk County is fully embracing agriculture as an economic engine, a lifestyle and the very backbone of our history and culture. Over the past couple of years, many Polk County farmers have expanded their operations, in very exciting ways adding vegetable operations, greenhouses, aquaculture, buffalo, water buffalo, free range chickens, berries, herbs and hops. Each farm is unique and reflects the character of the farmers and their families.

As it was last year, the tour is in partnership with the Appalachian Sus-

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Dawn Jordan and “Tom Turkey” at Restoration Farm, where heritage birds are raised, processed and sold. Restoration featured homemade household products, sustainable gardens and river lodging tours at last year's farm tour. Photo submitted by Carol Lynn Jackson.

tainable Agriculture Project (ASAP), or ASAP Family Farm Tour throughout Western North Carolina. Your PolkFresh™ vehicle pass will get you on the neighboring county farms the next day. Visit www.asapconnections.org for their downloadable tour map.

You can purchase a vehicle pass (all funds cover the cost of the tour and benefit the Mill Spring Agricultural Development Center) that allows any number of people in that vehicle to visit as many participating farms during each farm's specified hours as desired. Farm tour participants are encouraged to bring a camera, a cooler and cash to make purchases that day, as well as to wear farm-appropriate clothing.

Lunch options are available all along the way and each farm stop will offer sales, samples or tastings of their goods.

Or take your own picnic and lunch riverside or fieldside in the

shade at any one of the farm tour stops that day. The day will culminate in a celebration farm-to-table potluck that evening with Slow Food Foothills, beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Mill Spring Ag Center. In Slow Food potluck tradition, bring your own place setting and refreshments and a locally sourced dish to share. Learn about the fast-growing chapter, its mission and projects and how you can participate to support the foothills farmer and the local, traditional food system and heritage.

Take the family, friends and neighbors to explore Polk County farms and agri-based businesses.

For more information about participating farms and their profiles, demonstration activities and times and ticket sales locations, visit www.polkcountyfarms.org.

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Third Annual Polk Fresh Farm Tour in conjunction with ASAP Family Farm Tour Date: Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012 Time: 8 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

* Pick-up and drop off at Mill Spring Ag Center. Let someone else navigate while you relax and socialize. There will be two buses running; space will be limited and on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Where to purchase your vehicle pass: Sept. 1 - PolkFresh™ Farm Store at the Mill Spring Ag Center Sept. 1 - Columbus Farmer’s Market Sept. 8 - Columbus Farmer’s Market Sept. 13 - Tryon Farmer’s Market Sept. 14 - Saluda Farmer’s Market Sept. 15 -Columbus Farmer’s Market *Use your car pass to attend ASAP Farm Tour Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012

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Worm Composting Magic for the garden Written by BARBARA TILLY Photographs by BARBARA TILLY

Top: Mickey Lively talks about worm castings, which he describes as the best fertilizer in the world. Bottom: Kay Campbell of Garden Gate Nursery holds up a tub of red wiggler worms at a recent class worm composting.

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Top left: Kay Campbell drills holes in a plastic tub to prepare it for use in worm composting. Top right: Shredded paper and cardboard should be between Ÿ and ½ of the food put in the worm composting tub. Bottom right: Worm castings and worm compost tea.

It might look like a box of wriggling dirt, but what's underneath the wriggle is pure magic for gardens.

"Worm castings are the best fertilizer in the world," said Mickey Lively of Garden Gate Nursery in Hendersonville, N.C., at a recent class on vermicomposting, or worm composting, presented at Isothermal Community College by the Foothills Associates of Master Gardeners (FAMG).

To make his point to the class of approximately 30 experienced gardeners,

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Lively said he used worm castings and worm compost tea to grow Kousa dogwoods, normally a fairly slow-growing tree, from seed to five feet tall in only two years.

The worms that work this magic are not nightcrawlers or other varieties commonly used for fishing, Lively said.

Instead, they are eisenia fetida, known as red wigglers. Worms of this type are well-adapted for composting because they live successfully in highly populated conditions, have voracious appetites and

don't burrow. Unlike many worms, they eat what's above them, not what's below, so they can be easily fed. In addition, they don't tend to wander if the temperature, moisture level and food availability are maintained properly.

Kay Campbell, also of Garden Gate Nursery in Hendersonville, N.C., reached into a plastic container and held up a squirming mass of small red worms to show the class. She said each pound of worms and bedding contains approximately 1,000 red wigglers.

FEATURE

People gather at Isothermal Community College for a class on worm composting.

What is worm composting?

Worm composting is a way to recycle paper, food scraps and other compost materials into a rich soil conditioner. The compost created this way, called worm castings, has no strong smell, so worm composting can be done indoors or outdoors at any time of year, in any weather.

Worm compost is made in a container filled with moistened bedding and red wigglers. Paper, cardboard, food waste - even some types of manure - is added to the top of the container and the worms and micro-organisms will eventually convert the entire contents into rich compost.

Worm castings will not burn plants, Lively said, and they can be used as a top fertilizer or worked into the soil. For houseplants, he said, you use one tablespoon of worm castings per one-gallon houseplant once every week or two.

In addition, you can make worm compost tea from worm castings. The worm tea, diluted, can then be used to feed plants, either by dropping the liquid by spoon onto the soil or by spraying the plants' foliage with the tea.

With minor adjustments to the compost tea recipe, you can also create a fungicide or an insecticide (see the compost tea recipes on page 51).

Barbara Clegg of the Foothills Association of Master Gardeners gives Mickey Lively of Garden Gate Nursery a bottle of local wine in appreciation for a recent class on worm composting he and Kay Campbell gave at Isothermal Community College.

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Getting Started To create a worm composting bin, follow these steps: 1. Start with a 5-gallon plastic tub. Don't use a clear box, because the worms don't like light. Especially if you plan to keep the composting bin outside, don't use a styrofoam container, because other animals can get in. With a 1/4-inch or 1/16-inch bit, drill holes about 4-6 inches apart on the sides, bottom and top of the tub. The smaller your drill bit, the more holes you should drill. These holes ensure adequate drainage.

2. Place about 2 inches of bedding material in the bottom of the tub. Campbell used coir fiber (from coconut husks).

3. Shred newspaper, cardboard, napkins, paper egg cartons and other paper materials. Wet the shredded materials and place them in the tub in a layer of about 2 inches.

4. Put in 1 pound of red wiggler worms. You can buy the worms online; they are also available at Garden Gate Nursery.

5. Cover with food: paper, cardboard (corrugated cardboard is especially good because it encourages the worms to lay eggs), rabbit or cow manure and food scraps such as fruit peels, watermelon, crushed eggshells and vegetable scraps. Don’t feed the worms dairy products, bones, meat or citrus.

They also will not eat avocado peels, Campbell said. Paper or cardboard should make up between 1/4 and 1/2 of the food.

6. Put the tub under a light indoors with the lid on, or take it outside and leave the lid off for a day or so. Because red wigglers don't like light, they will stay below the surface, giving them time to get used to the space and begin eating the food.

7. Keep the temperature between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and make sure the tub contents stay moist but not wet. Check the tub regularly and add more food as needed.

8. When the tub is nearly full, you are ready to move the worms to another tub so that you can harvest the worm castings.

9. Prepare another tub as in steps 1-3 above.

10. Take off the top of the almost-full tub and place the newly prepared tub on top of it. When the worms have run out of food in the bottom tub, they will travel up through the holes in the bottom of the new tub in search of food.

11. When all the worms are in the top tub, you can separate the tubs. What's left in the bottom tub will be pure worm castings, ready for use as fertilizer or to make worm compost tea.

For more information: The N.C. State University website has a wealth of detailed information about worm composting.

Visit www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/vermicomposting.

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FEATURE

Worm Compost Tea Recipes WORM COMPOST TEA FERTILIZER 3 gallons of worm castings in a bag made of a clean sock, pantyhose or cheesecloth 8 oz. cup of feed molasses 1 package live yeast (the packets from the grocery store work fine) 1 35-gallon vat of rain water Mix the molasses and the yeast into the water. Submerge the worm casting bag in the water. Aerate the water with a fish aquarium pump or something similar for 24 hours. Use within 48 hours. Keep refrigerated.

Worm compost tea. Copyright Amy Weishuhn.

Source: mypeoplepc.com/members/arbra/trinity/index.html

Worm compost tea fungicide Follow the worm tea fertilizer instructions, but do not use any molasses.

Worm compost tea insecticide Follow the worm tea fertilizer instructions, but double the molasses.

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HISTORICAL FEATURE

Polk County ’s

Revolutionary War Battle

Earle's Ford and Fort granite marker at Four Columns on S.C. 128 (Landrum Road) one mile east of Landrum, S.C. erected by the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution photo by CBB. Written by JOE EPLEY

horseback, slashing all who attempted to rise. The Tory militia followed on foot, shooting any who resisted.

Along highway 14 north of Landrum toward the state line, Two young Whig lieutenants, Noah Hampton and Andrew there is only a small marker to indicate a Revolutionary War Dunn of Rutherford County, were startled by the sounds of atbattle took place just a few hundred yards west of where the tack. As they were attempting to dress for battle, Dunlop came road crosses the Pacolet River and goes into North Carolina. upon them and demanded their names. When Noah answered No one knows for sure the exact location of the fight, but be- ‘Hampton,” Dunlop yelled, “Damn you Hampton's to hell” lief is that the state line runs though the middle of the battleand plunged his saber through the young officer’s body, killing field. him instantly. He also mortally stabbed Dunn.

During the dark of night of July 14, 1780, Colonel Ambrose As this was occurring, a growing number of rifle shots beMills, whose home then was on Green River, led a raiding party gan raining down from the hillside above on the attackers, who of 60 mounted Tory militia and 16 provincial dragoons across suddenly learned they had stumbled into a rendezvous of about a remote stretch of the North Pacolet River between current 300 Liberty men from Rutherford and Burke counties. Realday Hunting Country Road and S.C. 14. The raiding party was izing he was out-gunned, Dunlop ordered his men to retreat. under the command of Captain James Dunlop of the AmeriThey hastily galloped off toward their base at Prince’s Fort, can Queens Rangers, who was regarded as the best fighting located on the Blackstock Road near the northwestern boundofficer among Major Patrick Ferguson’s handpicked veterans ary of present-day Spartanburg. chosen to help quell the rebellion in the frontier Carolinas.

The Patriots suffered eight dead, 30 wounded and one man Crossing the river upstream from the ford, the raiders quiet- taken prisoner. Captain John Jones, the commander of the ly picked their way through the cane brakes as they approached Georgians, survived with multiple cuts from saber slashes. their target, a camp site of three-dozen Georgia militia who The attack took place near the home of Captain Ned had surprised and defeated Loyalist militia at Gowen’s Fort Hampton who was no kin to young Noah or his father, Colonel the day before. No sentries challenged their approach as the Andrew Hampton, commander of Rutherford troops. The Loyalist raiders reached the field where the Patriots lay sleepson-in-law of Bayliss Earle who owned the plantation where ing. Dunlop ordered his dragoons to draw sabers and charge on the battle took place, Hampton commanded a South Carolina 54 L IFEINO URFO O T HI L L S. C O M

HISTORICAL FEATURE

A map of Polk County, formerly Rutherford County, in 1776. Map drawn by Heddy Lonero. This is one of four maps available by Lonero. Maps from years 1815, 1910 and 2010 are also available for $45 each. To purchase these maps, contact Lonero at 828-894-2345 or by mail at P.O. Box 1047, Tryon, N.C. 28782.

cavalry troop, which he quickly mobilized along with other men from the North Carolina militia who were bent on revenge, and gave chase to the raiders.

After a 16-mile run, they caught up with some Loyalist stragglers, killed 13 and left an untold number wounded on the field. Suffering no deaths, Hampton’s force returned to Earle’s Ford with 35 captured horses.

Andrew Hampton was heartbroken when he found his 21-year-old son, Noah, dead. He accused the overall militia commander, Colonel Charles McDowell of Burke County of failing to post sentries to give early warning in case of attack.

Noah was the first of the old colonel’s 15 children to die.

Two and a half months later, Colonel Andrew Hampton’s bitterness toward McDowell contributed to McDowell's rejection by other militia colonels as the overall commander of mountain area Liberty Men formed to chase Ferguson’s Loyalist raiders from the region. Hampton accused McDowell of poor military leadership while others questioned McDowell’s aggressiveness in battle. As a result, Virginia’s William Campbell led

the Patriots to victory on Oct. 7, 1780 at Kings Mountain.

In early September, Patrick Ferguson had invaded western North Carolina through what is now Polk County, occupying the area for about a month before moving eastward, where his Loyalist army was wiped out by Patriot militia in a battle that Thomas Jefferson called “the tide in the turn of success” for America’s struggle for independence.

Today, the only evidence of the nighttime raid at Earle’s Ford is a small stone marker alongside the road in front of the Four Columns plantation house on the South Carolina side of the river. There are no markers in Polk County. Few obscure history books make any mention of the action. It was one of hundreds of small clashes that occurred during the 1780s between Loyalists and Patriot militia.

Editor’s note: Joe Epley is the author of the historical novel “A Passel of Hate,” which tells a detailed story of the Earle’s Ford raid and the Kings Mountain campaign’s impact on old Rutherford County, which then included Polk County.

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POLK KNIGHTS

Your resource for local equestrian events and happenings

APPOINTMENTS Sue Mullen, of Landrum, returned from Auburn, Calif. where she completed the 100-mile Tevis Cup endurance ride from Tahoe to Auburn. Photo by Bill Gore. See page 68.

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APPOINTMENTS

Equestrian Events Edens travel to Jackson Hole, Wyo. Jane Eden and husband, Mark, recently traveled to Jackson Hole, Wyo., where they spent a considerable amount of time riding the trails while on vacation.

The Edens live in the Bessie Jackson house in Landrum and have Rocky Mountain horses that they take out of rides of the local trails almost daily. Photos submitted.

SEPTEMBER Sept. 8 Greenville Foothills Pony Club monthly meeting. For more information, contact chculbertson@earthlink.net.

Sept. 8-9 Harmon Classics at Harmon Field. For more information, contact Lewis Pack at 828-894-2721.

Sept. 15 Harmon Hopefuls at Harmon Field.

For more information, contact Noreen Cothran at 864-457-3557.

Sept. 15-16 Paul Belasik Clinic at Blue Moon Farm.

For more information, contact Sophie Clifton at sophie@montana.net.

Sept. 19 Presentation by Dr. Adrienne Otto about Equitarian Initiative Workshops at the Foothills Ridsing Club meeting, at the Harmon Field Log Cabin at 6:30 p.m. For more information, email amaunder@windstream.net.

Sept. 22 An open show by the Polk County Sheriff ’s Mounted Patrol at FENCE will benefit the sheriff department’s benevolent fund. The show is open to youth and adult participants and the various classes include halter, showmanship, English, hunter over fences, western, gaited, trail and sport classes. For more information: 864-457-2718.

Sept. 25 Harmon Hopefuls at Harmon Field.

For more information, contact Noreen Cothran at 864-457-3557.

Sept. 28 Tryon Riding and Hunt Club Schooling event at FENCE. For more information, contact Laura Weicker at 828-859-6109.

Sept. 29-30 Carolina Carriage Club Pleasure Show will be held at Harmon Field. For more information contact Ned Frybarger at dartsec@windstream.net.

Sept. 28 Dr. Stephen O’Grady will present a program on the equine foot Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. at the Mill Spring Ag Center. In 2003, O’Grady was inducted into the International Equine Veterinarians Hall of Fame. Space is limited and RSVPs are required. For more information, call 828-894-2627.

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Finally Farm.

Converse College

equestrians move to Finally Farm Written by BARBARA CHILDS Photographs submitted

Converse College team member Carrie Ann Culbertson won a blue ribbon at a Berry College competition.

a strong team of riders and some new recruits. This transition allows me to focus on helping every member of our The Converse College Equestrian team maximize their talent, as each Team recently announced its move to rider plays a role in making the team Finally Farm in the historic Hunting successful. These young women have Country area of Polk County. also become an inspiration in my own The team will continue under the leadership of head coach Lincoln Rus- riding.”

The facility has a prime location just sell, who has coached the team since reinstatement of the school’s program minutes from the Foothills Equestrian and Nature Center (FENCE), Harmon in 2010. Russell and wife, Suzanne, Field and Green Creek Equestrian base their Lone Oak Farm out of Finally Farm while Russell continues to Park.

“We are excited about the move of ride as a professional and coach for the our equestrian team to Finally Farm, Valkyries. said Converse College Athletic Direc“It is great that we have moved into tor Joy Couch. “This is a great facility a historic horse area that offers miles of rolling countryside where our riders to house our team and continue to build a winning program under the can practice," said Lincoln. “We have 58 LIFEI NO URFO O THI L L S. C O M

direction of Lincoln Russell.”

Converse placed second in the last two competitions of the 2011-2012 campaign to finish fifth in the school’s region among 15 teams.

The team has been back in competition for two years, initially with eight riders, and now there are 21 riders coming back for the 2012-12 season.

Last year Converse hosted the regionals where three riders - Meredith Walker, Kathleen Coker and Catherine Billings - qualified and competed. As a freshman rider, Billings also qualified for the nationals and had the opportunity to compete with the top 36 open riders in the country in the USEF Caccione Cup. She finished in 14th place.

As the team becomes a new member

FEATURE APPOINTMENTS

Cate Billings competes in the USEF Cachionne Cup at Nationals 2012 earlier this year.

Billings qualified for the national event as a freshman rider for the Converse College equestrian team.

of region 3 in Zone 5 for the 2012-13 season, Russell and riders have set a goal to place in the top three.

“Looking at our team going into the season and having our new setup at Finally Farm, our goals are attainable," said Russell. "We are looking forward to bringing the Converse College Equestrian Team back to the level Lincoln Russell, head coach of the our alumnae remember ... a force to be Converse College Equestrian Team. reckoned with.”

Finally Farm owner Frank Monterisi said he looks forward to hosting the team at his facility.

“I am very well aware of the increased activity that the program would bring. My son rode for the Clemson Equestrian Team for three years,” Monterisi said. “Being very involved parents, my wife and I went to many practice sessions and as many competitions as we could. We are very much aware of what a team's presence impacts on a facility such as ours, and we are comfortable with the embracing of the prospect.”

Finally Farm was constructed nine years ago. The facility includes 28 acres on the FETA (Foothills Equestrian Trail Association) trails, offering hundreds of miles of trails and direct access to FENCE. The barn has 20 stalls with rubber mats, automatic waterers, automatic fly system, two heated wash stalls with hot and cold water, double-size tack room with restroom, seven large pastures with run-in sheds and a 150 x 325-foot ring with all-weather footing. •

The facility includes 28 acres on the FETA (Foothills Equestrian Trail Association) trails offering hundreds of miles of trails and direct access to FENCE. The barn has 20 stalls with rubber mats, automatic waterers, an automatic fly system, two heated wash stalls with hot and cold water, double-size tack room with restroom, seven large pastures with run in sheds and a 150 x 325-foot ring with all-weather footing.

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APPOINTMENTS

Dr. Adrienne Otto.

Passion

for equine health

Written by BARBARA CHILDS Photographs submitted

all equids that need food, water, medical help, castration and floating of teeth.

Dr. Adrienne Otto's farm is nestled well "We improve the life of a working animal into the Green Creek trail system in Columthat provides a family with increased income, bus. Her Quarter horse buckskin mare and thus making a better way of life. So 'initiative' yearling Bliss find peace while grazing near a means that part of our gig is to pass on our large pond with geese. enthusiasm and expertise and promote future Otto is the director of a veterinary proworkshops wherever there is need. In that gram called the Equitarian Initiative, primarsense our work is humanitarian," said Otto. ily sponsored by the AASEP (American By working animals, Otto means she is Association of Equine Practitioners), along primarily concerned with the horses, donkeys with the Donkey Sanctuary, the World Horse and mules that haul beans and coffee out of Welfare League and several other associations. the mountains, carry huge milk containers The veterinarians involved in this program from rural dairies, haul rocks, carry garden pay their own travel and living expenses produce to markets or are the primary source as they visit poor countries and administer of transportation to school or town. equine services to horse, donkeys, mules and “I have seen these animals used as wheel60 LIFEI NO URFO O THI L L S. C O M

Dr. Adrienne Otto

chairs for amputees who have no access to the former,” she explained.

Otto possesses a primal love for horses.

In 2010 she attended the first Equitarian Workshop in Mexico, and from that moment she was hooked. Since then Otto has attended other workshops and recently she has participated in a similar project in Guatemala, organized by RAVS (Rural Area Veterinary Services) and the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association (ASVMA).

“In 2011, I organized the first Equitarian Initiative Workshop in Costa Rica. This workshop was much larger and more intense.

I look forward to the 2013 workshop there, scheduled for March 2013. Our success depends on the critical help and cooperation

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Dr. Adrienne Otto and Bay Filly.

of our Costa Rica Veterinary Team, as well as our relationship with the Costa Rican Veterinary School," Otto said.

She said the goal is to provide sustainable health care for horses, donkeys and mules in poor and underdeveloped countries.

“By improving the health of these indispensable members of the family, we improve the overall health and well-being of the entire human family, and the community itself,” she added.

Basically the vets provide dentistry, castration (with anesthesia), minor surgery, medical care, de-worming, harnessing, saddle fitting and and farrier services to animals that have never seen a farrier or vet. There is no charge for these services.

Having an animal that is healthy enough to work makes all the difference between a family stuck in abject poverty and one that has a chance to improve its circumstances, Otto said.

Since this work is all a volunteer effort, no one gets paid, and transportation and living expenses are the responsibility of the individual veterinarians attending the workshops. Donations and sponsorship are essential, as their efforts are completely supported by grants and individual donations of money, supplies, airline tickets and frequent flyer miles.

“We eat a lot of rice and beans and bananas, enjoy oscillating fans (no air) and cold showers, when available," said Otto.

Regarding the Costa Rica workshops (Otto's personal responsibility), the foundation AAEP, has been the main sponsor. Sean Eastman and David Zimmerman, who are local, have been supportive. The Foothills Riding Club has invited Otto to speak at its meeting Sept. 19 at the Harmon Field Log Cabin.

When not traveling or working as a relief veterinarian, Dr. Otto enjoys a simple life on her farm with two little dogs, two horses, the sheep, a vegetable garden and organic blueberries. •

Otto is the director of a veterinary program called the Equitarian Initiative, primarily sponsored by the AASEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners), along with the Donkey Sanctuary, the World Horse Welfare League and several other associations.

The veterinarians involved in this program pay their own travel and living expenses as they visit poor countries and administer equine services to horse, donkeys, mules and all equids that need food, water, medical help, castration and floating of teeth.

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APPOINTMENTS

Caitlyn Poole

Miss South Carolina High School Rodeo Association

Caitlyn Poole of Greer, S.C., who trains at Latigo Farm in Polk County, was honored to represent South Carolina as their High School Rodeo Queen at the NHSFR (National High School Finals Rodeo) in Rock Springs, Wyo. this past July. She traveled to Wyoming with 22 other teammates who qualified for various events.

In the queen competition Poole competed against 42 other queens from across the United States, Canada, Australia and Hawaii.

Poole finished four in horsemanship and 14th overall in the competition.

Poole said she is looking forward to serving the state of S.C. and the association as the SCHSRA (South Carolina High School 62 L IFEINO URFO O T HI L L S. C O M

Rodeo Association) queen of the year.

To win the title of Miss SCHSRA, Poole competed in the queen contest at the S.C. High School Rodeo Finals. She was judged in five categories: speech, modeling, horsemanship, impromptu appearance and personal interview. In addition, she was required to take a written test based on the National High School Rodeo Rulebook.

"To me, the most important piece of the contest was the horsemanship because I am a rider first and foremost, said Poole.

"I am proud to have been chosen as the SCHSRA queen, but I am most proud that I received the highest score in the horsemanship portion of the contest."

APPOINTMENTS FEATURE Poole worked with a personal trainer three days a week to prepare herself to run for the queen contest. She wanted to be in the best possible physical shape, so she visited her pageant coach, Jared Beasley of Curls and Crown in Honea Path, S.C. and she worked with her interview coach, Deb Sofield. In addition, Poole traveled to Anderson, S.C. to practice horsemanship patterns five days a week. Poole also practiced her speech exercises and studied the rodeo rulebook every chance she got. There were other tasks like picking out her outfits, being fitted for the rodeo dress, and learning how to style that big rodeo queen hair.

In order to qualify for the National High School Rodeo Association finals, Poole competed in the South Carolina High School Rodeo Association rodeos.

SCHSRA held 19 qualifying rodeos this year including rodeos in Marietta, Ga. and Iva, Westminster, Saluda, Barnwell, Cassatt and Hartsville, S.C. Poole also competed in the Foothills Youth Rodeo Association and local IPRA (International Professional Rodeo Association) rodeos when she didn't have high school rodeos.

Poole said her horse, Flashy Jazzgirl, aka Jazzy, is one of the best horses she has ever ridden. Jazzy is a buckskin mare, and Poole leases her from Bret Schmidt of Anderson, S.C. She still owns and rides Daisy, her fifth birthday present. She is a small dapple gray quarter horse/Arabian mix. "Daisy has been retired from competition, but she will always be my favorite horse," says Poole.

"She always gives you 100 percent when you ask for it," said Poole. "She is always level headed and calm, but she knows right when it's time to do her job.

She's a lot of fun to ride. When you ask for lead changes, she gives them to you clean and without hesitation. When you ask her to stop, she drops her rear and slides. All around she is an awesome mare."

Poole said, some of her goals this year in riding are to qualify for the nationals in Rock Springs, Wyo. in all of her events, and then go to Shawnee, Okla. and compete at the IFYR (International Final Youth Rodeo). She also hopes to continue to learn more about cutting and hopefully to participate in some NCHA (National Cutting Horse Association) and AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) cutting horse competitions."

Poole currently competes in barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway roping, and goat tying. She has taken to cutting as well and qualified for the Nationals in this event. This is her first year doing it.

Poole has worked with several trainers in the areas. When she entered the sport of rodeo, she trained with Tommy Smith of Greer, S.C. Poole said she also learned much under the direction of Sherwin Lindsey of Latigo Farm.

"Tommy Smith has prepared me well for the sport of rodeo and taken me to the next level. He has taught me proper form, to always look to the next barrel and how to get more speed out of my horse. He also taught me how to use my body to communicate with my horse, and how to correct issues that I might be having with one of my rodeo horses. For the most part I train on my own now, but Tommy is the person I call when I can't correct a problem on my own," said Poole.

According to Poole there are several opportunities to introduce young people to the sport of rodeo.

"I believe that rodeo is a great sport and should be enjoyed by people of all ages, whether they participate as competitors or spectators," "I am thrilled with the SCHSRA board, which recently voted to add the elementary division in addition to the junior high and high school divisions. This will accommodate kids from grades K5-5th grades to compete in rodeo through our awesome association. Anyone interested in participation in any division can obtain information by visiting www.schsrodeo.org or by contacting me at poolcaitlyn@gmail.com."

Caitlyn Poole lives at her Stillwater Farm in Greer, S.C. •

"To me, the most important piece of the contest was the horsemanship because I am a rider first and foremost. I am proud to have been chosen as the SCHSRA Queen, but I am most proud that I received the highest score in the Horsemanship portion of the contest," – Caitlyn Poole

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Acupuncturist makes Foothills home Written by BARBARA CHILDS

Cynthia Milligan. Photo by Suzanne Sturgill.

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Cynthia Milligan practices contemporary oriental medicine, which is a blend of traditional Chinese medicine and the five-element and Japanese medicine.

Some riders especially enjoy the practical benefits from her acupuncture as they believe it releases tension and stress and relieves pain.

Milligan uses traditional acupuncture therapies to enhance her patients’ bodies' natural abilities to heal. In blending these therapies with western medicine, she said she tries to create a contemporary and complementary form of healing for her patients.

These therapies include acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutritional counseling, tua na (eastern medical massage), auriculotherapy, ear seeds, electrical stimulation, cupping moxibustion and Gua Sha. While some of these therapies sound foreign, Milligan said they are all therapeutic avenues to achieving optimal health with few or no side effects.

“What is the point of all this? Acupuncture and oriental medicine treat the source of your problems, not just the symptoms, and by doing so, it is more likely that your nagging symptoms won't come back,” said Milligan.

Milligan was first introduced to acupuncture and oriental medicine in 1994, when she said she sought help for whiplash and chronic fatigue.

“Then 10 years later I was thrown from a horse and had a compression fracture of the lower back. At that time I was told that I should expect to have constant pain, and I would not be able to ride because of the pain,” she said. “Ha, ha — I was not going to give up my horse and riding. I worked with my acupuncturist and did physical therapy and within nine months I was back in the saddle again. I have been pain free for the last nine years.”

In 2007, Milligan had an eye-opening year, as three of her close family members passed away. While working at the corporate offices of a national homebuilder, she said she knew layoffs were coming. This is when Milligan decided she could make a difference and be happy with her chosen profession. So she jumped off the cliff and went back to school to earn her master's degree in oriental medicine.

APPOINTMENTS FEATURE

CynthiaMilligan on Sharklee. Photo by Ivey Sumrell

Milligan said she enjoys watching the changes in patients’ faces and demeanors as they experience a new way of healing.

“Acupuncture works on the whole body and not just one ache or pain. It is rewarding to ask my patients if their tooth still hurts or their achy hip still wakes them up at night, and they look at me and say, ‘Gee, I forgot all about that problem,’” Milligan said.

While she could provide numerous medical theories about acupuncture, Milligan said a simple explanation makes more sense.

“The body has a lot of energy channels similar to blood vessels, and you can think of them as a highway for energy. When there is an accident, the cars start backing up to cause more congestion. As the congestion increases the business around the highway cannot function as it should, and more backups and congestion are created,” said Milligan. “Some people think of acupuncture as hocus-pocus, witchcraft, voodoo, but don't let that scare you. Acupuncture is a painless medical therapy involving the shallow insertion of thin needles in the skin to stimulate the body's flow of energy into a state of homeostasis or balance.”

Many people in the area have had their horses treated with acupuncture. For Milligan, it was friends in the horse community that drew her to the area.

With riding the trails and enjoying the cool mountain air, and having the variety of equine disciplines, she said she is happily settled here. She said the healing properties of the mountains and their beautiful views made her choose the foothills as a place to live and practice what she loves and knows best.

Milligan is a licensed acupuncture physician (LAc) in North Carolina and Florida. She is the owner of “To the Point Healthcare” in Tryon.

"Acupuncture works on the whole body and not just one ache or pain. It is rewarding to ask my patients if their tooth still hurts or their achy hip still wakes them up at night, and they look at me and say, ‘Gee, I forgot all about that problem," – Cynthia Milligan

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APPOINTMENTS

Left to right: Cindy Young, Suzanne Solis, Sue Mullen. Photo submitted.

Mullen

completes 100-mile endurance ride

Article submitted by DAVID MULLEN

Editor's note: Sue Mullen, of Landrum, S.C., has just returned from Auburn, Calif., where she completed the 100-mile Tevis Cup endurance ride from Tahoe to Auburn. The following is her account of the ride: This spring I was talking to a friend in Georgia, Suzanne Solis, who was going to Tevis and taking both her horses so that she would have a backup in case one was not able to start. She generously offered me the backup horse, Khorvet. I did two competitions on him in early summer and then an overnight camping/riding trip and felt we were a good match. I would be riding with Cindy Young, on Suzanne's other horse, Thor.

Suzanne was crew chief, assisted by Debbie Sutton, my husband Dave, and Dave's brother, Wil. They were an incredible crew!

We were up at 3:15 a.m., with lots of butterflies and very little sleep. 205 horses and riders nervously waited in the dark and dust for the 5:15 start time. We left Robie Park, the starting camp, at 7,200 feet and would climb approximately 17,000 feet and descend approximately 22,000 feet before arriving at the finish line in Auburn.

The ride starts with a single track trail for 7 or 8 miles through the woods, then crosses Hwy. 89 and heads towards Squaw Valley. We crossed above the valley, just under ski lifts, then up and over Emigrant Pass. Next we headed into the 66 L IFEINO URFO O THI L L S. C O M

Granite Chief wilderness area, where my mare Ellie and I had an accident in 2010. The trail here is very technical but incredibly beautiful. It has been rerouted around where we fell, and I had a great sense of relief when we were through that part. Next up was the famous Cougar Rock. With just a little encouragement Khorvet was up and over in no time. What a great feeling of exhilaration cresting the top! I was sure the worst was over and the final 70 some miles would be a cinch. Boy, was I wrong!

At 28 miles, there is a Gate and Go where we had to have the horse's pulse down to 60 and pass a vet inspection, then were free to leave. The horses drank well and had a bite to eat and we were on our way.

We got to see our crew for the first time for a mandatory hour hold at Robinson's Flat, with 36 miles behind us. For about the last 1/4 mile into camp the road was lined on both sides with people clapping and cheering. Every rider coming in feels like a rock star! Our crew was stripping tack and sponging the horses as we walked in. The pulse criteria was again 60 and both horses were down by the time we got to the vet area. The hour hold went smoothly but too fast! We were back on trail at 11:44 a.m..

The trail from Robinson's Flat starts out with four miles of gravel and dirt road; our first chance to stretch out into a canter

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all day. After another gate and go at Last Chance, we started the descent into the first Left to right: Sue Mullen, Cindy Young and unknown of three canyons. This rider. Photo by Bill Gore. was the most difficult part of the trail for the horses and Cindy and me. The first canyon is six miles of narrow, steep trail with tight switchbacks in the heat of the day. Soon after heading down I decided that my girth was too loose, but it would have to wait until I got down to the bottom to get tightened as there is no room for getting on and off unless you're very agile and brave, of which I am neither.

We got off and led the horses across the swinging bridge at the bottom, another thrilling landmark.

At about 62 miles we came out of the woods and onto a dirt road leading into the little town of Michigan Bluff, where we rode down Main Street. It may have been the only street. I think the entire population was out cheering, waving, offering to hose our horses, grilling hamburgers and in general making a party out of our passing through. It's a great pick-me-up for tired riders and horses.

The second and last place our crew could meet us was at the 68-mile Foresthill vet check, another one-hour mandatory hold. Again we got the rock star treatment into the vet area. The horses looked great and passed the pulse and vet checks quickly. We both put on white shirts so that it would be easier to follow each other in the dark. We left there at 7:35 p.m. with red helmet lights on and glo sticks taped to the breast collars. Horses see quite well in the dark; the lighting was more for our peace of mind.

At this point we were lucky to fall in behind a gal who lives in the area and trains regularly on this trail. It was a cloudy night and quite dark by the time we got to the section known as Cal 2. This is a high, narrow trail and our riding companion said it was much better to be riding it at night when we couldn't see where we were. Every now and then we'd knock a rock off the trail and hear it falling on and on. There was quite a lightning show, but it was far off and we got only a light sprinkling of rain.

Francisco's check point, another gate and go, is surreal, coming out of the darkness into a small meadow lit up like daylight. Khorvet was still going great, but I was fading. I must have looked it, because as soon as I got off

I think the entire population was out cheering, waving, offering to hose our horses, grilling hamburgers and in general making a party out of our passing through. It's a great pick-me-up for tired riders and horses. – Sue Mullen

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the finish. By this time the clouds had parted and we got our moonlight ride over the bridge.

We crossed the finish line at 3:50 a.m, to the delight of our someone rushed up and took Khorvet and put me in a chair. long-awaiting crew. Again the horses vetted out with flying colThe volunteers at Tevis, more than 700 of them, are unbelievable. One of them took Khorvet to food and water, vetted him ors. Of the 205 horse and rider teams starting, 98 finished. We through for me and brought him back to the food and water un- were 44th and 45th.

This ride was a dream come true and it would never have til I was able to mount up. In the meantime, a volunteer brought happened without an incredible team effort. I'm forever indebtme Gatorade and a pb sandwich. After about 20 minutes I was ed to Dave and Suzanne, who made it happen for me; to Debbie feeling much better and was hoisted back up. It's a well-known and Wil, who gave up a perfectly good weekend for this crazifact that horses get taller as the day goes on.

We had only 15 miles to go and were feeling pretty confident ness; to my riding companion and true BFF, Cindy, and to all of the volunteers and vets who make this ride possible. I can't about finishing now. However, at this point we didn't want to find the words to express what I feel for a horse that so willingly take any chances and decided to go very slowly and carefully into Auburn. As it turned out, six horses were pulled at the last carried me over the Sierras one long day. I expect I'll be riding Khorvet in my dreams every night from now on. check, only 6 miles from the finish line.

In 2010, my friends and this community gave me a great Three miles from Francisco's we crossed the American River, amount of support and encouragement in my quest for Tevis. which had glo sticks just under the surface of the water leading Here's a big high five to you all; I'm glad I could finally do you the way. proud. And hope you weren't expecting a top ten finish. • The next landmark was No Hands Bridge, four miles from

Man, I ate too many carrots.

My gut hurts.

Could be ulcers my friend.

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APPOINTMENTS

Top left: Blue Ridge Classic IFSHA Regional CHampion Dressage Ate Sjoerd and Lilia White. Top right: Blue Ridge Classic IFSHA Regional Costume Fantasy Grand Champion Hoera Boszorg II and Michelle Sumner. Bottom left: Blue Ridge Classic IFSHA Regional Costume Fantasy Grand Champion Hoera Boszorg II and Michelle Sumner. Bottom right: Blue Ridge Classic IFSHA Regional Country English Pleasure Hoera Boszorg II and Michelle Sumner.

Dark Knights Stables

attends regional championship

Article submitted by MICHELLE SUMNER Photographs by HOWARD SCHATZBERG

Dark Knight Stables (DKS) of Landrum attended the regional championship in Asheville, N.C., July 24-28, The Blue Ridge Classic Horse Show.

DKS took home both the regional champion and reserve champion titles in the fantasy costume contest. Ate Sjoerd was regional champion in dressage.

Engbert, one of the horses DKS just imported to the farm from Holland and only 3 years old had his first U.S. in hand class so upon entering the ring he was definitely one of the more eagar participants.

Hoera Boszorg II and Karst Van de Olijtak did well in the WTC and country pleasure class.

Next, DKS will head to the world championship in California.

Back home, DKS has been busy. They have several Friesians recently imported from Holland along with a top dressage Friesian from the U.S. Robert Mayer a B.H.S.I and F.N. top classical dressage instructor, has visited DKS once a month to work with horse and rider. Next month DKS will accept participants to work with Mayer.

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1. Darbie Barr with her Dressage horse, Legend, at the certification test. Photo submitted by Dodie Barr. 2. Darbie Barr riding Regal Chivas. Photo submitted

by Dodie Barr. 3. Karinn Delap, rated from unrated to a D1 Pony Clubber. Photo submitted by Rene' Morfinos. 4. Abby Billiu with Trayce Doubek. Bullin was voted pony clubber of the month. Photo submitted by Rene' Morfinos.

U.S. Pony Club

announces national certification Article submitted by DODIE BARR Photographs submitted

The United States Pony Club's Carolina Region recently announced the successful national level certifications for the following local members: Darbie Barr, C+ member of Greenville Foothills Pony Club; Amanda Morfinos, C+ member of River Valley Pony Club, and Eric Wright, C3 member Greenville Foothills Pony Club.

Additionally, several other successful candidates from other states who participated in the testing held at FENCE on July 19-22 and earned their C3 and B certifications. Each candidate had to demonstrate both mounted and unmounted proficiency in order to meet the USPC standards and receive their certifications.

The mission of the United States Pony Clubs, Inc. is to develop character, leadership, confidence and a sense of community in youth through a program that teaches the care of horses and ponies, riding and mounted sports. If you are interested in finding out more about pony club, visit www.ponyclub.org.

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APPOINTMENTS

Left to right: Karinn, Jenna, Krista, Jessica, Sammie Firby, Helen F., Allie Billings, Denise R, Shelby, Eric, Christian, Kylie and Sami Haase. Photo submitted.

RVPC summer camp Written by DENISE RITACCO

River Valley Pony Club (RVPC) held a summer camp June 11 - 14, at Windridge Farm.

Then pony clubbers, ages 5 to 18 years old, attended with their horses. They rode two times each day with Eric Dierks. They did dressage, stadium, gridwork, cross country and even learned how to surf their horses.

Many instructors donated their time to RVPC. Anita Williamson taught braiding, Dr. Rich Metcalf taught about jogs and lameness', Ivey Sumrell taught about horse massage, Lydia Juenger taught about natural horsemanship and Lori Corda taught about yoga.

Denise Ritacco was the organizer and Denise Walsh fixed all the food for the event.

Don Andrews , CFP (828) 692-9006 117 W. Barnwell St. Hendersonville a075036@allstate.com

Š 2011 Allstate Insurance Company

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APPOINTMENTS

Dudley (top) and Madeline (bottom).

Big Scoop in equine news

Written by BARBARA CHILDS

There's a new mini-donkey in town. I have seen her photo and would like to meet her.

She's real eye candy and very smart and friendly. Annika Kramer of Tryon owns her. Even though Madeline is my main squeeze, I still enjoy the good-looking female ears and eyes of my illustrious breed.

The ultimate relaxing machine is here - Dave, the equine massage man has arrived and he always comes to me first!

Now, for my Guinness, please.

Here's the scoop on what's hot in the equine world.

David Smith has retired from the FETA board of directors as trail chairman. Anne Swift takes care of the trails on the Hunting Country side and Ric Rondel takes care of the trails on the Little Mountain side of Red Fox. Mike Frye is new to the FETA board, and he brings his extensive legal background and good nature. He and his wife, Ginny, live in Hunting Country near FENCE. Some of the best things in life are free. The Foothills Humane Society is holding a freedom adoption program cats, dogs, kittens and puppies. Remember, shelter animals are not broken or damaged; they are homeless through no fault of their own. Call 828-863-4444 for more information.

Next year the Southeast Trail Council will be held in S.C., so no excuse for not attending if you are a regular trail rider.

Rick McLean, the executive director of Back Country 72 L IFEINO URFO O THI L L S. C O M

Horsemen of America, is visiting in the area. He is from Mooresville, N.C. and recently attended a meeting at Madelon Wallace's home for Equine Land Conservation Resources. He loves trail and backcountry riding with his quarter horse.

Annie Maunder of Finally Farm is happily looking forward to the completion of her new barn in two-three months.

Carla Leigh is having double knee surgery and will recouping for six-eight weeks. She is a member of the Green Creek Hounds and rides Flip. Carla has opened an equine store in the Vera Consignment and Antique Shop in Landrum.

Natalie Holiday has been competing in IPRA Western classes. She and her great horse Douglas loved the barrel racing portions.

Nationally-known natural horsemanship trainers Pat and Linda Parelli will be in Williamston, N.C. on Dec. 8-9 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. They will cover: problems with makeover horses, mastering your body position, fool-proof lead changes and how to get collection. Kids 16 and under are free. For more information, visit www.parellinaturalhorsetraining.com/natural-horse-training.

Randy at the Frog & Swan in Tryon has a spayed kitten that needs a good home. She is a love and will work for you in the barn. Please contact him if you can take her - she is a pretty tortoise shell color and very focused on hunting predators. Contact Randy at 828-859-6757.

APPOINTMENTS

Dudley ’s Recipe Be sure to give your equines electrolytes in this tropical dragon air of summer humidity. Apple is my favorite choice of flavor.

Madeline has chosen this prize-winning drink for humans to replenish much-needed vitamins and minerals lost with working hard and riding - it's a delight.

4 green tea bags seeped for 3-4 min. in boiling water 3 naval oranges 2 med. lemons 2 cups orange juice 1/4 cup lemon juice 3 tbl. honey 1 liter of chilled ginger ale Peel oranges and lemons. Stir in orange juice, lemon juice, and honey. Cover and refrigerate for six hours.

Before serving, stir in the ginger ale.

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Underwritten by Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company and its affiliates,1100 Locust Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50391-3000. Customers will be placed with a company based on their location and product requested. Products and discounts not available to all persons in all states and products are subject to deductibles, exclusions, and conditions. Nationwide, the Nationwide framemark, and On Your Side are federally registered service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. AgriChoice is a federally registered service mark of Allied Group, Inc. © 2012 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. All rights reserved.

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WHY I LOVE THE FOOTHILLS

Marshall Lipscomb: Serving the community and saving lives Describe your background and how you're currently involved within the community.

I was born in Spartanburg, S.C. on Aug. 27, 1977. I grew up in Forest City, N.C. for a few years, but have been in Tryon since preschool age. I attended Tryon Elementary and middle schools. I had the pleasure to be a member of the first class to attend all four years at the new Polk County High School.

Marshall Lipscomb At an early age I knew I wanted to become something in the medical field. In high school I became involved with Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA). I was president my senior year. I began working on my Certified Nurse's Assistant degree while in high school and completed it the following summer. I attended Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and earned my basic EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) certification. I also attended Blue Ridge Community College and earned my EMT defibrillator certification. I became an EMT intermediate through Isothermal Community College. In 2010, I graduated from Blue Ridge Community College with my associate's degree in general education.

I currently serve as the assistant fire chief for Tryon Fire Department part time and volunteer as an EMT. I became the first African American firefighter for the Town of Tryon.

I work for Polk County EMS (Emergency Medical Service) as an EMT intermediate. I serve on various organizations throughout the county including: Thermal Belt Friendship Council, Tryon 123 Precint (vice-chair) and Polk County Democratic Party. In 2005, I was approached by Michael Coggins, who was the fire chief in Tryon at that time, who asked if I would like to become a firefighter.

What did you enjoy most about growing up in the foothills?

I love growing up here in the foothills. I love waterfalls and mountaintops. I enjoy the sense of community and small-town feeling in the foothills. Most people here are related in some way.

I spent many afternoons in the summers playing with my brothers and neighbors: kickball, basketball, baseball and hide and seek.

One of the highlights of the summers in Tryon was being able to go to the Roseland Community Center. The center offered tons of fun and games for the area children. The pool was the biggest treat. It was relaxing to go beat the heat on a hot and muggy July afternoon.

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Interview by GWEN RING Photograph by GWEN RING

Who or what in this area do you believe had the largest impact on you?

I would have to say that the Polk County School System has had a lasting impression on my life. I can remember my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Peggy Edwards, taking my brother and me to the store to buy us clothes for school. Mr. Gene Vanderford, my high school band director, also influenced me. I am a charter member of the Polk County High School Cadets. The band members were my family and helped me through some difficult times in my life. I lost my brother and my dad within the same year while in high school and the band was there to support me during and after those times. Mr. Vanderford allowed me to experience many things and travel several places.

Do you have a favorite spot in Polk County, Landrum or the surrounding area?

I love being up high, so I like going up to the top of Hogback Mountain and Melrose Mountain and looking into Greenville and Spartanburg counties. I love the drive up to White Oak Mountain.

The waterfalls on the way up are beautiful. At the top of White Oak, the view is great. I love to get in the car and drive so sometimes I'll ride out Hwy. 11 to the Hwy. 25 intersection, or sometimes I like to ride out Hwy. 9 through Lake Lure and Chimney Rock. I have been to Pearson Falls several times. I like taking walks and hikes to exploring different areas.

When you're not working or volunteering what do you enjoy doing?

When I am not working or volunteering there are two things that I love to do: cook and travel. I love being in the kitchen. One of the favorite things I like to cook is bbq. I have a small smoker in which I cook Boston butts and sometime baby back ribs. I also love to bake cakes, cookies, brownies and anything else. I can make a good chicken casserole and macaroni and cheese.

Traveling has always been in my blood. I just recently returned from Myrtle Beach, S.C. and Charleston, S.C. What's the one motto you carry with you from having grown up in the foothills?

The one motto that has stood out to me the most comes from a revival meeting at a local church. The preacher said, "A setback is only a set-up for a greater comeback." That statement has stuck with me since I heard it. Throughout my life, I have faced many difficulties and have had to overcome many obstacles, but I know that God is only preparing me for greater works. Yes, I may be struggling at times, but I know that through Jesus Christ, I have the victory.

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